Crisis Safety Plan
Your emergency roadmap. Saved securely on this device.
Pre-populated based on clinical evidence for PTSD / Complex & Developmental Trauma. Learn them before a crisis happens.
- Talking about wanting to die or 'not being here anymore'
- Accessing means (weapons, stockpiling medications)
- Writing goodbye letters or social media posts that feel like farewells
- Giving away possessions or 'getting affairs in order'
- Sudden calm after a period of severe depression or agitation
- Self-harm behaviors (cutting, burning, hitting)
- Severe dissociation — being 'gone' for extended periods
- Increased substance use
- Expressing hopelessness or feeling like a burden to others
- Increasing isolation — withdrawing from everyone, not just you
- Sleep disruption worsening significantly
- Canceling therapy appointments
- Refusing to use regulation tools that previously helped
- Increased irritability or emotional volatility beyond baseline
Used in VA hospitals, crisis centers, and emergency departments worldwide. Fill it out before a crisis. Review it together regularly. Keep a copy on the refrigerator, in a wallet, and on a phone.
Warning Signs
Thoughts, moods, situations, or behaviors that signal a crisis may be developing.
Internal Coping Strategies
Things they can do on their own — without contacting anyone — to take their mind off the crisis.
People and Places That Provide Distraction
Social contacts or settings that can help shift focus — without necessarily discussing the crisis.
People I Can Ask for Help
Family members or friends who can help during a crisis — people they trust enough to tell what is happening.
Professionals and Agencies to Contact
Treatment providers, crisis lines, and emergency services.
741741 — Crisis Text Line (text HOME)
911 — Emergency Services
Making the Environment Safe
Specific steps to reduce access to lethal means. Refer to the Lethal Means Counseling section above.
One thing that makes life worth living
Research shows that identifying a specific reason to live — however small — is protective during a crisis.
Stanley, B. & Brown, G.K. (2012). Safety planning intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256–264.
What specific actions will you take when you notice warning signs? Personalize these for your situation.